Automatic sprinkler and fire-indicator



Q Sheets-Sheet II" J. S. KIEHL. 0 AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER AND FIRE INDICATOR.

(No Model.)

Patented Oct. 17,1893.

. I I r 7 Z K A R I t I ii a W W4 a I (No Modl.) I 2 SheetsShe et 2..

J. s. 'KIEHL. AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER AND FIRE INDIGATOR. i No. 506,700. Patented Oct. 1'7, 1893. I

UNITED STATES PATENT GF I E.

JOSEPH SILAS KIEHL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC SPRlNKLER AND FIRE-INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 506,700, dated October 17; 1893.

Application filed October 19, 1892. Serial No. 449,416. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern: Be it known that I, JOSEPH SILAS KIEHL, a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Sprinklers and Fire-Indicators, of which the following, when taken in connection with the drawings accompanying and forminga part hereof, is a full and complete description suflicient to enable those skilled in the art to understand, make, and use the same.

My invention relates to the class of devices designed in case of fire in the building or room wherein the same is located, to auto matically sprinkle or throw water within and pipes and sprinkled therefrom within and about such room and such room only; to obtain a device whereby, when water is being so sprinkled within and about any room of the building wherein the device is placed, the room in such building-in which water is so being sprinkled shall be designated or indicated to firemen and others outside of the building by a suitable signal; and further to provide in case of any possible failure of any part of the device used for sprinkling purposes, that the signal shall be given, to provide an independent mode of producing such signal to designate the particular room of the building in which fire obtains.

To efiect the several purposes sought by me, I use a pump driven, preferably, by an electric motor, the feed pipe of the pump being connected with a suitable water supply and the discharge pipe thereof with a piping extending throughout the building, with suitable valves, hereinafter described, placed in the piping to control the discharge of the water forced therethrough by the pump; automatic electrical indicators and switches for starting the motor, used in actuating the pump, and for turning the proper valve in the piping to sprinkle water in the room where the fire obtains; and for making the desired signal, (such signal being by me a common incandescent electric light, the bulb whereof is preferably composed of red glass.)

In the drawings referred to as illustrating my invention: Figure 1, is a sectional View of a building showing the device embodyingmy invention placed therein; Fig. 2, a sectional view of an automatic thermo-electric circuit closer; Fig. 3, an enlarged view of a circuit closer actuated by the lever of the valve admitting water into the sprinkling pipes, when such lever is turned so that water can pass through the valve into such sprinkling pipe; Fig. 4, a side elevation of an electro-magnetic catch for holding the lever of the valve admitting air into the sprinkling pipe in position so that the valve is closed; such electro-magnetic catch being adapted to release the lever when an electric current extends through the coils thereof; Fig. 5, atop plan view of the electromagnetic catch illus trated in Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a side elevation of a valve employed by me as an element of my device adapted to be turned by any person, as a watchman or workman, so as to allow water to pass through it, and when so turned, to automatically start the motor and pump thereby providing water to pass through the valve; Fig. 7, a top'plan view of the valve illustrated in Fig. 6; and Fig. 8, a perspective view of a lever actuated by the movement of the pump, such lever forming the handle of an ordinary valve, which may be placed in the main-pipe extending from the water supply to the pump, or in the pipe extending from the pump to the several distributing pipes or in both, as preferred.

The same letter of reference is used to indicate a given part wheremore than oneview ICO sists of glass bulb f, having thereinmercury f, into which mercury the terminal wire (1 exively, the terminal wires 01, 01, extend to the. thermocircuit-closers E, E, respectively.

Thermo-circuit closer E, (as well as thermocircuit closer E hereinafter referred to,) contends, such glass bulb having the neck f in which neck the terminal (1' extends to ashort distance above the levelof the mercury f; whereby when the mercury f is expanded, as byheat electrical connection is made from wire (1 through mercury f to wire df,i(wire d by the expansion of the mercury j" becoming immersed therein.) When the thermocircuit closer E is closed as described, the circuit consistingof wires a, D, D, and a, with terminals d, d, is closed and an electrical current from any .suitable source of supply as a. dynamo, will then extend thereover through the motorA, which will be thereby actuated. The motor A will then-actuatethe pumpand thereby supply water to pipeb' and distributing pipes O, O, or to onethereof; suchrsupply and distribution of waterbeingcontrolled and regulated by the devices about to be described.

.F, is a drip pipe in pipe 1), through which when the valve thereof, (which will be .hereinafterdescribedQ is open, watercontained in the pipeb above such-drip pipeand if any, inrthedistributing pipes C, may run therefromleaving such pipes dry.

Motor. A is connected tothe pump B, (such pump being preferably a rotary pumpwhen an electric motor is used as a driven) by means of thegearing Glocated on the driving shaft ofnlotor A, intermeshing with gearing G on the driving shaft of pump B. So that the motor A need not be :started, under a load, as it is termed, the pump 13 is practically empty of water, when not in use, and in orderthat the water may not extend from the sourcev of supply thereof through pipe b, when such source of supply is higher than pump B, as where the water main of a citysupply is connected .therewith, I provide the valve H actuated by thelever h, in'pipe b, such lever h havingextending. therefrom to the shaft of thepu mp B, cord h. Leverhhas at the outer end thereof fork k through which fork cord h extends.- Cord h has, at the end thereof adjacent to lever h, the button h the other end of such cord beingattached to the rotative shaft 19 of pump B. By inspection of Fig. 1, it will be. seen that when the shaft b of pump B is rotated by the motor A, the cord h willbe wound'around shaft 1) and lever h thereby moved so that valve H will be opened, (it being understood that such valve is closed when lever his in the position illustrated by full lines, and open when the lever -h has been brought into or about the position indicated by dotted lines,) and that at such time the button It will be drawn out of the slot h of leverh, and shaft 1) may continue to rotate, whirling such button around it. H, is a valve in pipe I) actuated in like manner by means of lever h thereof and cord 72.

extending around shaft b Valve H is, when in the position illustrated by full lines in Fig. 1, open into drip pipe F hereinbefore referred to,and-when drawn down by cord it, so that the button on cord h may slip off the ing wherein a fire obtains, I provide the dis tributing pipes, or sprinkling pipes O, C, as hereinbefore-stated, such pipes'being perforated, and having therein, .respectively, valves H H Thesevalves H H are actuated by lever -h having .thereon weights W, the valve being closed when such levers h are in the position illustrated by full lines in Fig. 1, and open when such levers arein the positionillustrated bythe'dottedlines in Fig. 1. To maintain the levers h -in the-position wherein the valves H Iii-respectively, are closed,-I provide the electro-magnetic catch I. This catch I is an ordinaryelectro-magnetic catch-consisting of the coils I,'I,;electro-magnet l armature I projection Iv and spring 1 Spring I tends to hold the armature .1 awayfrom electro-magnetl Projection 1 when the armature I is-not dlfiWIlTtO- ward electro-magnet-I, is adapted to engage withlever h and hold'it together with'weight Win the position illustrated in Fig. .1.

t', t, arewires extending from electro-magnetic catch '1 to the circuit .over which the current extends actuating the motor, or if preferred, to 'a secondary circuit wherein is placed an automatic thermo-circuit-closer. Where the electro-magnet'I is actuated by the same current actuating the; motor A,.the electrical resistance of thecoils I,-I, is commensurate with the electrical resistance of the motor A, so that the armature I will be actuated bythe passage of a current therethrough sufficient to actuate the imotorA, while at the same 'time,-such coils will permit the passage therethrough of a current having .sufficient amperage to actuate the motor A when such motor is driving the pump B. Where the electro-magnetic catch 1 is to be actuated by a secondary current the wires/i, 11, are disconnected from the main circuit and-connected to a circuit inwhich is placed a suitable electrical generator, as a storage battery, and-the dotted wires i ,'i ,in-

dicate a means of connecting such wires to such a circuit as hereinafter fully described:

To provide means, whereby at any time water may be used through .avhose on any floor, without the use of the distribution pipes C, O, hereinbefore described, there may be placed in the pipe b, valves J, J, by which wa ter' can be shut off from ascending in such pipe to the horizontal sprinklingpipesthereover; and branch pipe K, to which thehose may be attached.

,K, is a valve in pipe K.

In order that water maybe supplied, when valve K is turned,I extend from the wires a,.

a respectively, wires k, is, ending in the terminals k 10 respectively. By the turning of the lever K of valve K one quarter round from the position in which it is illustrated in Figs. 1, 6 and 7, (such being the closed position of the valve,) to an open position, terminals Z 70 will come in contact and the circuit thereby established, whereby the motor A will be. actuated.

L, is a signal light; Z, Z bein the wires whereon the current extends illuminating the lamp. v t

I have shown in, Fig. 1, two ways of establishingthe circuit, one of such ways is by means of the terminal M actuated by the lever h, and the other by means ofthe thermocircuit closer E constructed and actuated in the same manner as is the thermo-circuit closer E hereinbefore described. M, is a storage battery. When the circuits Z, Z are closed by the terminal M an electric current extends from the battery M over wire Z to terminal M, from thence from wire Z to the light L, from thence over the wire Z back to the storage battery M. When the signal light L is illuminated by establishing the circuit through thermo-circuit closer E, the circuit extends from the storage battery M over. wires Z and Z to thermo-circuit closer E, through suchthermo-circuit closerto and over wire Z to wire Z, from thence to light L, and from thence over wire Zto the. storage battery M.

The dotted wires 1', Z hereinbeforereferred to as connecting the circuit 'i, z", with a circuit wherein an independent electric generator is used to the one actuating the motor A, extend from wires i, 2', respectively, to vthe wire Z such wire Z being out between the points thereon where wires 1?, 2' respectively,- are joined thereto. When so arranged, when the circuit whereon the current extends which illuminates the light L, is closed by the thermo-electric switch E, the current will extend from the storage battery M or other electric generator substituted therefor over wires Z Z towire 41 from thence to wire 1', and from thence through the coils of magnet I, from thenceover wire 11 to wire 41 and over such wired back to wire Z, from thence through the thermo-electric closer E, through such thermo-el'ectric closer, and from thence over wires Z Vand Z to the lampL, and from thence from wire Z to storage battery M.

v The, terminal M'herei'nbefore referred to, is well illustrated in Fig. 3, of the drawing, and consists of the casing m, bolt m, having springm mounted thereon,.one end of such springabutting against the casing m, andthe other against the collarm rigidly secured to bolt m, electrical conductors m also rigidly to which are secured wires Z? and Z respectively. When the lever k is turned by the weight it thereon in the manner hereinbefore described, so that the end thereof shall come in contact with the outer end ofthe boltm, electrical conductor m4 is pressed downward in contact withterminals m m and thecircuit is completed. I

Having thus described my invention, what I. claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an automatic sprinklerand fire indicator, a pump, a motor to actuate the pump, a pipe extending from the pump 'to a water supply, a pipe extending from the pump to theseveral rooms of a building, distributing pipes extending from the last named pipe, a

.thermo-circuit closer locatedin such building and wires extending from an electrical generator to the thermo-circuit closer and to the motor actuating the pump,.whereby when I the circuitformed by such wires, and thermocircuit-closer is closed, the motor and pump will be actuated and water willbe forcedthrough the pipe from the pump and through the distributing .pipesgsubstantially as de scribed- I r 2. Inan automatic sprinkler and fire indicator, a pump, a motor to actuate the pump, a pipe extending from the pump to a.water supply, a valve in such pipe whereof the'arm is connected to a movable part of the pump, a pipe extending from the pump to the several rooms ofa building, distributingpipes extending from the last named pipe, a. thermo-cim cuit-closer located in such building, and wires extending from an electrical generator to the thermo-circuit closer and to themotor actuating the pump, whereby when the circuitformed by such wires, and thermo-circuitcloser is closed, the motor and pump will be actuated, and water will beadmitted to the pump from the pipe extending to the water supply and forced through thepipe'fronr the pump and through the distributing pipes; substantially as described. j V -3. In an automatic sprinkler and fire indi-. cator, the combination of a pump, a motor engaging. with and adapted to actuate the pump, a pipe extending from the pum-pto a water supply, a pipe extendingfrom' such pumpto the different rooms of a building-1,: distributing pipes extending from the last named pipe,'a valve in each of the distributing pipes, the lever whereof is weighted and thereby adapted to automatically open such 75 secured on bolt m, andterminals m and m valve, an electro-magnet the armature whereof is adapted to lock the weighted lever so that the valve thereof is closed, wires extending from an electrical generator to the motor and to the several rooms of the building, thermo-circuit closers interposed in the cir cuit formed by such wires, with the electromagnet locking the lover of the respective valves in the distributing pipes also interposed in such circuit, whereby, when the circuit isclosed by the thermo-circuit closer an electric current will extend over such circuit to such electro-magnet and to such motor, and water will be thereby forced through the pump and to and through the distributing pipe in the room wherein is located the thermo-circuit-closer the closing whereof completes the circuit whereby the motor'is actuated; substantially as described.'

4. In an automatic sprinkler and fire indicator, the combination of a pump, a motor engaging with and adapted to actuate the pump,

a pipe extending from the pump to a water supply, a valve in such pipe whereof the arm is connected to a movable part of the pump, a pipe extending from suchpump to the different rooms of abuilding, distributing pipes extending from the last named pipe, a valve in each of the distributing pipes, the lever whereof is weighted and thereby adapted to automatically open such valve, an electro-magnet the armature whereof is adapted to lock the weighted lever so that the valvethereof is closed, wires extending from an electrical generator to the motor and to the several rooms of the building, thermo-circuit closers interposed in the circuit formed by such wires, with the electro-magnet locking the lever of the valve in the distributing pipes open also interposed in such circuit, whereby, when the circuit is closed by the thermocircuit closer an electric current will extend oversuch circuit to such electro-magnet and to such motor andwater will be thereby admitted to the pump-from the pipe extending to the water supply and forced through the pump and to and through the distributing pipe inthe room wherein is located the thermo-circuit closer the closing whereof completes the circuit whereby the motor is actuated; substantially as described.

5. In an automatic sprinkler and fire indicator, the combination of a pump, a motor engaging with and adapted to actuate the pump, a pipe extending therefrom to a water supply and a pipe extending therefrom to the different rooms of a building, a valve in each of the distributing pipes, the lever whereof is weighted and thereby adapted to automatically open such valve, an electro-magnet the armature whereof is adapted to lock the weighted lever so that the valve thereof is closed, wires extending from an electrical generator to the motor and to the several rooms of the building, thermo-circuit closers interposed in the circuit forming such wires, with will be thereby forced through the pump and to and through the distributing pipe in the room wherein is located-the thermo-circuit closer, the closing whereof completes the circuit whereby the motor is actuated and a signal will be automatically exhibited; substantially as described.

6. In an automatic sprinkler and fire indicator, a pump, amotor to actuate the pump,

a pipe extending'from the pump to 'aevaten supply, a valve in such pipe whereof the arm is connected to a movable part of the pump, a pipe extending from the pump to the several rooms of abuilding, wires extending from an electrical generator throughout the rooms of the building and to the motor, a hose pipe located on the pipe extending from the pump to the distributing pipes, a valve in such hose pipe, electric terminals on such valve, wires extending from such terminals to the wires forming the circuit Whereon the current extends actuating the motor and such terminals on the valve being closed by the opening of the valve; whereby when such valve is actuated a current will extend over the circuit thereof to the motor and water will be supplied to the hose; substantially as described.

7. In an automatic sprinkler and fire indicator, the combination of a pump, a motor engaging with and adapted to actuate the pump, a pipe extending from the pump to a water supply, a pipe extendingfrom such pump to the different rooms of a building, distributing pipes extending from the last named pipe, a valve in each of the distributing pipes, the lever whereof is weighted and thereby adapted to automatically open such valve, an electromagnet the armature whereof is adapted to lock the weighted lever so that the valve thereof is closed, wires extending from an electrical generator to the motor and to the several rooms of the building, thermo-circuit-closers interposed in the circuit formed by such wires, with the electro-magnet locking the lever of the valve in the distributing pipes open also interposed in such circuit, a hose pipe located on the pipe extending from the pump to the distributing pipes, a valve in such hose pipe, electric terminals on such valve, wires extending from such terminals to the wires forming the circuit Whereon the current extends actuating the motor and such terminals on the valve being closed by the opening of the valve, valves interposed in the pipe from the pump to the distributing pipes between such hose pipe and such distributing pipes in the respectlve rooms, whereby when the last named valve is closed and the valve in the hose pipe is opened, an electric current will extend over the circuit thereof to the motor and water will be supplied to the hose; substantially as described.

8. In an automatic sprinkler and fire indicat0r,'an electric signal, wires extending therefrom to an electric generator, and a thermo electric circuit closer interposed in the circuit to formed by such wires, substantially as described.

' JOSEPH SILAS 'KIEHL.

Witnesses:

CHARLES TURNER BROWN "FLORA L. BROWN. 

